Not too long ago, I was working on an article for a magazine — a straightforward trend story, where I was to interview a handful of manufacturers of a certain product and then write up a summary of my conversations. Easy as pie.
That is, until the moment when one of my calls happened to reach a marketing guy who had had a bad experience with a magazine request in the past.
Before I could even finish introducing myself, the guy started berating me, accusing me of running a scam and trying to deceive him when I asked about his products. He insisted that my innocent request for information was some sort of ruse intended to dupe him out of money, and he wasn’t going to fall for it again. He hung up on me after wishing me a good afternoon in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
I had never called the guy or his company before, so he was clearly confusing me with someone else, and I probably should have just shrugged the whole call off and proceeded with my work. But the weird thing was, it really upset me. I actually had to walk away from my desk for a couple of hours.
And then when I did get back to work, I was scared. If I hadn’t had a pending deadline, I would have continued to avoid going back to the article. For some crazy reason, I was actually internalizing what this guy had said about me. I kept expecting other people to blast me and hang up, and it was only after a few more successful phone calls that I was able to put the event behind me.
Coincidentally, it was right around this time that I also had a miserable exchange with an editor I know. I had just completed a rhyming picture-book manuscript that I had been playing around with for a year or so, and I had decided to send it to her and see what she thought.
I was completely unprepared for how much she hated it — and hate it, she did! The topic was not one she was interested in, she said to me in an email, and what’s worse, the meter didn’t hold up through the manuscript. Basically, to paraphrase her, it was a hot mess.
Again, I had to get up from my desk and walk away. And since there easy no deadline pending, I didn’t return to the manuscript, the way I did with the article.
As writers, I think, we embrace our sensitivity. We dig deep for true emotions and authentic reactions in our characters. But sometimes, I have to say, it would be nice to have skin that’s thicker.
I’m currently finishing up the article, and it’s turning out well. As for the picture book, I’ve yet to look at it and still don’t know if I ever will be able to.
What do you think? Can writers grow thick skins? Would it help us? Should we try?
Another battered day in the life of just another working writer.
Tags: article, editor, Manuscript, writer
justanotherworkingwriter 
July 11, 2012 at 2:18 pm |
Ow. I see myself in your shoes. Lord knows I’ve had to take a few strolls after someone upset me.
You know, I tell people I have pretty good rhino hide, but after awhile, that hide gets kinda thin after constant abuse. I’ve learned that there are some people I can take criticism from and others I just don’t want to hear. I guess I’ve started developing a filter instead of thicker hide, you might say.
Sorry you had to go through all that. Hey, you’re human. Its ok to feel that way. At least you have your writing pals who can relate. 🙂
July 11, 2012 at 3:21 pm |
Wow, what a nice comment. Honestly, I was feeling like I had to be the sorriest sack in the world to be so derailed by both of those exchanges. I almost didn’t write all that! But now I’m glad I did. Thanks!
July 10, 2012 at 7:57 pm |
Very perceptive the way you say, “As writers, I think, we embrace our sensitivity. We dig deep for true emotions and authentic reactions in our characters.” It’s contradictory to grow a thick skin.
I guess the way to handle it is to remember that the person looking at your work hasn’t invested the time and emotion into it and isn’t going to ‘get it’ the way you do. They’re rejecting what you wrote but not necessarily rejecting you. To them, it’s all business whereas to you, it’s art, and at times, it’s your heart and soul. It’s all about the right fit and it’s nothing personal. Yeah, easier said than done, that’s for sure!!
I was once a professional musician and had my first album rejected by a distributor I was sure would take me and never got an explanation. The guy was a friend (and still is). I also had my album raked over the coals by a record producer. Not fun. But I found some of his critique quite useful.
And yeah, sometimes people are just assholes! For them, we grow thicker skins. 🙂 Hang in there!
July 11, 2012 at 3:23 pm |
Thanks for your nice comment. It’s helpful to know that others have been through the same thing. And I think you’ve pointed out something very important — that even an unpleasant critique can yield some helpful insights. Hang in there? Ok, I will!
July 12, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Good! 🙂
July 10, 2012 at 7:35 pm |
Hang in there. There are just some not so nice people in the world. So far as the book goes, don’t give up just on the basis of what one person says. From everything I keep reading about the writing world, different things strike different publishers as right.
July 11, 2012 at 3:24 pm |
I know you’re right, so thanks for the reminder. It’s crazy to just abandon something that I really cared about. Ok — going back to the book!